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The Last of the Spring Calves

Starting in March, Marlboro Man, Tim, and the rest of the crew started working the spring calves on the ranch.

This week, they worked the very last bunch.

It’s always nice to be able to see the very “end” of a certain season of activity in agriculture. Often, it can seem like all the work just continues on in a never-ending loop. But in fact, even though the work on a cattle ranch never stops, there are definite stopping points to the different categories: Hauling the last bale of hay, the last day of feeding once winter is finally over, burning the last pasture of the spring, shipping the last group of steers…and, again, working the last of the spring calves.

Fortunately, it was a glorious morning for July: Not too hot, not too windy…

Not too anything.

Which, for July in Oklahoma, is pretty darn wonderful.

As they got closer to Pa-Pa’s pens, they had to cross a small creek.

This always reminds me of Lonesome Dove, no matter how tiny the creek is.

LOOK OUT FOR THE WATER MOCCASINS, GUYS!

I wonder if, when the guys crossed this creek with the cattle, they thought about the symbolism of it all. It was a dividing line, a barrier between the old world of still having spring calves to work, and the new world of having all the spring calves worked. I wonder if, when they crossed this creek with the cattle, their eyes welled up with tears at the recognition that they were nearing the end of their four-month journey…

At the pride and accomplishment they must have felt for having completed this season of ranching…

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ChristinaS(2)

Good Morning Ree! What lovely photos to start my day with🙂. Yes, it is comforting to see the cyclical nature of work, regardless of what you do – it makes you feel like you have accomplished something that day….

Enjoy the donuts! And have a great weekend🙂.

http://girlnamedallyn.wordpress.com/ Allyn

Donuts at the end would definitely help motivate me!
Your area of OK looks so gorgeous

Leslie H

I bet they did tear up, Ree. Especially for the donuts.🙂

Dianna S.

I must admit, I got a little teary-eyed reading this…..and then BAM, the doughnut comment!
I love your sense of humor!! Made my day!🙂
Have a great week-end Ree!

Lisa F.

Looks like a beautiful summer morning to be out working.

http://cherylbarker.net Cheryl Barker

I’m guessing they were thinking about the donuts, Ree🙂

PatJ

Ree, I love your writing and descriptions of the farm and chores! Let me not forget your photographs! I have read your blog much longer than I have left comments! Only recently got the nerves up to post – don’t know why! Thanks for sharing! Sure enjoy all!

Cee

Thanks again for a wonderful window into your Oklahoma world. I would love to be there, on horseback, riding along with the cowboys….
And here I sit in a very different place, Cape Cod.
It’s fun to visit your ranch in Oklahoma. I love your blog!

http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com Mason Canyon

Beautiful photos to make a person appreciate nature in all its glory.

RuralTN

I like the ranching posts the best.

Iowa Farmers Daughter

I saw the very tip of one horse ear, great pictures MM. All babies are beautiful but the farmer in me is very partial to bovine’s. I think it’s those big beautiful eyes that melt my heart every time. Everything looks so lush and green, you’ve obviously had a fairly wet spring/summer. I just love reading your posts about the cattle and ranching. Blessed be.

Patty Jean

I have pasture grass envy! It is lush and beautiful! We live very north east of Colorado where the yucca’s are plentiful and the patches of green grass are far and few. Love your posts!

Deb

You forgot to add also that as spring comes and goes…along comes all the work for the winter months ahead. The hay oh my the hay we must work in!!!! The square baling, the rolling yuck!! Anyway, that’s where I will be this weekend…using a bar rake to prepare for rolled hay!!! The things us girls have to do sometimes but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!!! Hope everyone has a happy and safe weekend!!!

“the symbolism of it all” love that Ree. I get that, Lonesome Dove is one of my husbands favorite movie and book You are a gifted writer. Have a beautiful weekend. Kathleen in Az

Julia G.

Ree – your post is so emotional🙂 or maybe I was just wanting one of those donuts!!

Nancy Ellis

Your cooking show and blog are so much more . It is like enjoying a novel. Your family, your humor , the daily ranch life . It is a window for so many of us into a life we would never get to experience. Your photos are outstanding. Thank you Ree for allowing us to connect with you , especially in todays world of continual strife. God Bless

Beth H.

Lovely. Just lovely.

barbR

We live in NE OK and it too is beautiful. Most people think all OK looks like west of OK City—flat, windy, red dirt, scrub brush, no trees. NE OK is lush, green, hills, lakes and rivers (Baron Fork of the Ill). In fact, OK has more “coastline than east coast. I read that somewhere. Y’all come see us. Our Fall is spectacular, too.

Joyce

“and the fact” It’s amazing how our brain fills in the correct word when the written word is incorrect!

Chris

MM sure done take pretty pictures🙂 Thanks for sharing.

Angela from Maryland

I just love your photos and description of ranch life. It appears to me the symbolism from (MM or Tim, wearing blue jacket and waving) is like they are saying til we meet next year at the creek.

http://lindaus@sonnet.com Linia

Just lovely to come from the garden, sit down, and see your beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing. Neither my husband nor I have traveled through Oklahoma. I have flown over the state. Guess we need to travel there once you get your eating establishment on its feet.

Chris McGetrick

Loved the photos of the creek and I totally got the Lonesome Dove reference. We have had amazingly cool weather for Arkansas. Rain, etc. But it will hit 98 this weekend. That’s the summer in Arkansas I know.

Naomi

What a glorius day indeed! Everything was right that day:) Have a great weekend.